Chronicling civil-service life for California state workers

April 19, 2013

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees has scheduled a strike vote for the University of California hospital employees it represents.

AFSCME Local 3299 said in a press release that it will hold the vote for three days starting April 30.

The union's 13,000, patient care assistants, vocational nurses and radiology technicians and other hospital staff at the UC's five medical centers have been without a contract since October.

With talks at a standstill, the union released a report earlier this year that claimed the UC hospital system has sacrificed patient care for money, recklessly run up debt and enriches administrators while understaffing front-line care positions. University system officials dismissed the charges as a bargaining ploy.

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About The State Worker

The Author

Jon Ortiz launched The State Worker blog and a companion column in 2008 to cover state government from the perspective of California government employees. Every day he filters the news through a single question: "What does this mean for state workers?" Join Ortiz for updates and debate on state pay, benefits, pensions, contracts and jobs. Contact him at (916) 321-1043 and at jortiz@sacbee.com.

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